The Opera That Took Ten years to Write: Julia Perry’s ‘The Symplegades’

Photo: David Lees/Getty Images Among the many criminally unrecognized names in the American classical music canon, African-American female composer Julia Perry (1924-1979) represents the hidden aspect of the Black African-American compositional experience. Alongside other composers like Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Nora Holt, and male composers like William Grant Still, Vicente Lusitano, and “Black Mozart” Joseph Bologne, Perry’s contribution to America’s {…}

Mar 17, 2023

On This Day: Élisabeth Claude Jacquet de La Guerre is Born

On March 17th, 1665, French composer and masterful harpsichordist Élisabeth Claude Jacquet de La Guerre was born to a highly musical family in Paris. She is best known for her many instrumental works, including her sonatas and suites, although her many vocal works, including songs, cantatas, and even operas, gave her name prestige. Elisabeth’s name, however, is cemented in operatic {…}

Mar 8, 2023

International Women’s Day 2023: Four Women Composers and Their Contributions to the Art Form

Throughout time, women have routinely been at the bad end of the deal when it came to composing, performing, or really anything that has to do with music. However, as we now know, that didn’t mean women composers, performers, critics, and everything in between didn’t exist. Actually, the opposite! Composers like Hildegard von Bingen, Barbara Strozzi, Clara Schumann, and Amy {…}

Feb 27, 2023

On This Day: Marian Anderson and Her 1939 Lincoln Memorial Performance

On February 27th, 1897 African-American contralto Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia. With a career full of monumental firsts and acts of heroism, Anderson’s name is forever tied towards the fight for equal rights, not only for women but for the African-American community. A beacon of social change, Anderson’s legacy will never be forgotten. As an activist performer, Anderson accomplished {…}

Feb 14, 2023

He Did What?! Puccini & His ‘Love’ Life

What can be said about opera composers? Those who compose opera usually live very operatic lives filled with tons of drama fit for the stage. This is no more apparent than the great verismo composer Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) who, in his relatively short life, had many affairs, a formal wife, a “legitimate” and “illegitimate” son, and yet still found the {…}

Feb 8, 2023

The ‘Romantische Opera’: A Mini Guide

Romantische Oper (or German romantic opera) was a style developed in the 19th century, inspired from the movement known as the Counter-Enlightenment begun in the late 18th century. Generally, this style meant the incorporation of emotion, existential themes, and varied levels of nationalism and nationalist themes into opera’s aesthetics and themes. Defining The Style The style’s origins can be traced {…}

Dec 31, 2022

On This Day: Dame Joan Sutherland Sings For The Last Time

On December 31st, 1990, acclaimed Australian dramatic soprano Dame Joan Sutherland would give her last stage appearance, marking the end of a 40+ year, international career which brought her to audiences around the world, changing lives and minds everywhere she went. Singing in a gala performance of several operatic excerpts including Die Fledermaus’ Act 2 at the Royal Opera House {…}

Dec 25, 2022

On This Day: Opera Premieres On Christmas Day

(Photo Credit: Christian Dageförde) Dating as far back as the 17th century, vocal works about Christmas and themes about the Holy Nativity (i.e., the birth of Jesus Christ) and the events surrounding the pilgrimage of the shepherds, angels, and wise men have been created in quick succession. Everyone from Italian composer Carlo Francesco Cesarini, Russian composer P. I. Tchaikovsky, German {…}

Oct 28, 2022

On This Day: American Composer Howard Hanson

On October 28th in 1896, the American composer and musical polyglot Howard Hanson was born. Originating from Wahoo, Nebraska, and born to an exceedingly musical family, it seems his life was predestined for musical excellence. As a champion of American classical music, he worked tirelessly to foster interest in classical music. After having had prestigious musical training first at Institute {…}

May 31, 2020

On This Day: A Deep Dive into Puccini’s ‘Le Willis’ on the Anniversary of His Stage Debut

On May 31, 1884 Puccini made an unlikely debut at Milan’s Teatro dal Verme. Despite an ad- hoc mounting of “Le Willis,” he gained the acclaim of both the public and critics, forcing the impresario Steffenoni to extend its run to three consecutive nights. “Clamorous success. Eighteen curtain calls. First finale repeated three times. Am happy” we hear the 25-year-old {…}

Oct 10, 2019

What Is Your Favorite Verdi Opera? OperaWire’s Staff Chimes In

Giuseppe Verdi is undeniably one of the greatest composers in the history of opera with such works as “La Traviata,” “Aida,” “Rigoletto,” ubiquitous with the artform. Verdi’s genius is often associated with his melodic vibrancy and muscularity, but the greatest strength of his art is his ability to embed his characters with deep humanity, even in the most absurd of {…}